Topographical anatomy of superficial veins, cutaneous nerves, and arteries at venipuncture sites in the cubital fossa.

We investigated correlations among the superficial veins, cutaneous nerves, arteries, and venous valves in 128 cadaveric arms in order to choose safe venipuncture sites in the cubital fossa. The running patterns of the superficial veins were classified into four types (I-IV) and two subtypes (a and b). In types I and II, the median cubital vein (MCV) was connected obliquely between the cephalic and basilic veins in an N-shape, while the median antebrachial vein (MAV) opened into the MCV in type I and into the basilic vein in type II.

The relationship between the anatomy of the nuchal ligament and postoperative axial pain after cervical laminoplasty: cadaver and clinical study.

Study Design: A cadaver and clinical study investigated the attachment of the nuchal ligament to the cervical spinous process.

Objective: To investigate the anatomical details of the attachment of the nuchal ligament to the spinous process and the relationship between the morphology of the nuchal ligament and postoperative axial pain after laminoplasty.

Summary Of Background Data: The relationship between the length of the C6 spinous process and the morphology of the nuchal ligament and occurrence of postoperative axial pain has not been elucidated.

Associations between kidney position and surplus renal arteries in horseshoe kidney: case report and analysis.

We report the anatomical findings of a case of horseshoe kidney, and analyze the associations between kidney position and surplus renal arteries in horseshoe kidneys found in Japanese autopsies in the past. The horseshoe kidney of our case fused at the lower poles of the original kidneys. Its right and left upper poles were at the middle region of the first and second lumbar vertebrae, respectively.

Novel motion preservation device for atlantoaxial instability.

Study Design: An in vitro cadaveric biomechanical study.

Objective: To evaluate the anteroposterior (A-P) stability and the flexibility of our novel motion preservation device (MPD) using cadaveric cervical spines.

Summary Of Background Data: The MPD intended to restrict the A-P instability of the C1-C2 complex and to preserve the axial rotation, flexion, extension, and lateral bending was designed and produced.

The femoral insertion of the anterior cruciate ligament: discrepancy between macroscopic and histological observations.

Purpose: To observe the femoral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insertion macroscopically, histologically, and immunohistologically.

Methods: We used 20 embalmed cadaveric knees (mean age, 69.8 ± 5.

Surgical anatomy of the nuchal muscles in the posterior cervicothoracic junction: significance of the preservation of the C7 spinous process in cervical laminoplasty.

Study Design: An anatomic study investigated the attachment of the nuchal muscles to the spinous process.

Objective: To investigate the anatomic details of the attachment of the nuchal muscles to the spinous process, and which muscles are spared, and to what extent, when the C7 spinous process is preserved in the cervical laminoplasty.

Summary Of Background Data: In previous studies, it was reported that the incidence of postoperative axial pain was lower in C3-C6 laminoplasty than in C3-C7 laminoplasty, emphasizing the effectiveness of the former procedure where discission of the nuchal muscles that are attached to the C7 spinous process is avoided.

Physiological pineal effects on female reproductive function of laboratory rats: prenatal development of pups, litter size and estrous cycle in middle age.

The present study investigates whether and how the pineal or its hormone melatonin influences female reproductive functions, namely the litter size, prenatal development of offsprings, and estrous cyclicity, especially its age-related cessation in a non-seasonal breeder, the laboratory rat. Wistar rats were maintained under a 24 h light-dark (12Lratio12D) cycle. Female rats were divided into 3 groups: non-operated (NO), sham-operated (SX), and pinealectomized (PX).

alpha-Melanophore-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) antagonizes interleukin-1beta-induced hyperalgesia and Fos expression in the paraventricular and arcuate nucleus of the rat.

It is known that intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of a low dose of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) induces hyperalgesia and that this effect can be inhibited by alpha-melanophore-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). To identify the part of the brain that is affected by hyperalgesia-induced IL-1beta and the possible site of alpha-MSH inhibition, we have examined Fos expression in the rat brain in response to ICV microinjection of alpha-MSH and/or IL-1beta. Following injection of 10 pg IL-1beta, hyperalgesia was induced and Fos became expressed in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus and in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), which contains alpha-MSH-producing neurons.

Increased incidence of spontaneous malformations in pups and increased litter size from pinealectomized dams.

The aim of the present study was to clarify whether maternal pinealectomy increases: (i) the incidence of spontaneous malformations in offspring; and (ii) litter size. More than 30 female rats in each of the control groups (normal and sham-pinealectomized) and the pinealectomized group were mated repeatedly with normal male rats and pups were autopsied mostly before weaning. No malformations were seen in offspring from the normal and sham-pinealectomized groups (n = 350 and n = 736, respectively).

Cervical sympathectomy affects gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone in male rats.

To examine the effects of bilateral cervical sympathectomy on the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (TS), 24 male rats were divided into four groups: control (C), light (L), sympathectomy (S), and light-sympathectomy (LS) groups. The C and S groups were kept under a 12-h light-dark cycle and the L and LS groups were kept under continuous light for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, blood was collected and the rats were perfused with a fixative.